Hat protector



Jan. 4, 1955 P, PHLUPS 2,698,688

HAT PROTECTOR Filed April 11. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

Paul Loren Phi/lips INVENTOR.

(Waxy 3 A Horn]:

Ja'n- 1955 P. L. PHILLIPS 2,698,638

HAT PROTECTOR,

Paul Loren Phi/lips INVENTOR.

BY MM 15. MW:

'1955 P. L. PHILLIPS 2,698,683

HAT PROTECTOR Filed April 11., 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Fig-6 Paul Loren Phil/110s INVENTOR.

- WW 15% L United States Patent HAT PROTECTOR Paul Loren Phillips, Mechanicsburg, Ohio Application April 11, 1950, Serial No. 155,295

Claims. (Cl. 21133) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a hat protector and more specifically pertains to an improved construction of a hat supporter and protector.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved hat supporter and protector which shall be adapted for conveniently, securely and protectively supporting and retaining various sizes of hats in an improved manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hat protector and supporter as set forth in the preceding object, which shall be of a simple and inexpensive construction, easily mounted or supported in convenient, accessible and unobtrusive locations as desired, and shall be highly efiicient for the purposes intended.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide an improved hat supporter and protector which shall have a highly efiicient gripping means for frictionally but yieldingly retaining and supporting a hat upon the device without injury to the hat.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical central sectional view taken through one embodiment of the device and showing the manner in which a hat, a hat cover and a hat reinforcement are detachably secured to and supported by the device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, disclosing certain features of the device whereby the same may be detachably secured to a supporting surface;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but taken at right angles thereto;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a reinforcing frame forming a part of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a protective cover forming a part of the invention;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown] in Figures 1 and 3, the position of a hat when supported by the device being indicated in dotted lines therein; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified construction of the device showing an alternative means for supporting or securing the device to a supporting surface.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the invention includes a flat plate-like base 10 of any suitable material and construction, the same preferably being provided with flat or plain upper and lower surfaces. As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the flat upper surface of the base 10 is provided with a recess 12 extending from one edge thereof, this recess being of narrowing and tapering width inwardly from the edge of the base. A novel construction of holder is mounted upon the base 10 for releasably securing a hat thereto.

This holder comprises a pair of handles 14 and 16 which are pivotally connected to each other and to the bottom surface 18 of the recess 12 as by a fastening screw 20, whereby the handles will be entirely received within the recess 12 and will be positioned below the top surface of the base 10.

At their outer extremities, the handles 14 and 16 are provided with knurled finger grip portions 22 whereby 2,698,688 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 the handles may be readily manipulated. At their inner ends, the handles are provided with oppositely extending arms 24 and 26 which are curved upwardly and outwardly as will be apparent from Figures 1, 3 and 6. Upon their oppositely directed extremities, the arms 24 and 26 are further provided with knobs 28 of any suitable cushioning material such as sponge rubber, or the like.

A resilient means is associated with the handles for yieldingly urging the same and the jaws toward their open position. This means may conveniently comprise a resilient wire spring indicated generally by the numeral 30 and which has a loop portion 31 encircling the shank of the screw 20 and being retained in assembled relation to the handles by said screw, the spring member further having its opposite ends provided with hooks for engaging the handles 14 and 16 and yieldingly biasing the same away from each other.

The arrangement is such that by means of the finger grip members 22, the handles may be squeezed together, thus drawing the arms 24 and 26 toward each other, and contracting the two members 28, so that a hat may be placed upon the top surface of the base 10, with the arms 24 and 26, and their engaging knobs 28 received within the hat. When the handles are then released, the spring member 30 will yieldingly urge the knobs 28 against the inner side of the hat and frictionally grip and yieldingly retain the hat upon the top surface of the base 10.

It will be understood, of course, that the tension of the spring 30 will be such as to impart the necessary resilient gripping action to the inside of the hat, without danger, however, of denting or rupturing the same.

In order to protect the hat from being crushed by external forces while mounted upon the device, a reinforcing member is provided, the same, as shown in Figure 4, consisting of a wire framework shaped to conform to the contour of a hat and to be received within the same. This supporting framework may conveniently comprise upper and lower annular rings 32 and 34 joined by a plurality of vertically extending wires 36 to form a cylindrical framework, together with a larger ring 38 secured in concentric relation to the ring 34 as by radially extending members 40. In utilizing this element, it is merely necessary to insert the supporting framework within the hat, then place the hat and framework upon the supporting base 10, with the handles 14 and 16 of the holding means being held in their retracted position, so that upon releasing of the handles the spring means 30 will expand the arms 24 and 26, cause the members 28 to frictionally engage the sides of the hat, and also to overlie and rest upon the upper surface of the inner rim 34 of the supporting framework. Thus, the resilient arms of the holding device not only frictionally engage the hat, but also engage the rim 34 of the reinforcing framework to positively hold the supporting framework downwardly upon the base.

When the device is employed in environments where the hat might be subject to soiling or the like, a resilient protecting cover may be employed with the device, this cover being illustrated in Figure 5 and being shown in its applied position in Figures 1 and 3.

This hat protector may conveniently comprise a hatshaped casing of any suitable water-proof, weather-proof and pliable material such as rubber, suitable plastics, and the like, and includes a dome portion 42 adapted to surround and embrace a hat, either by itself or when placed upon the above mentioned reinforcing framework, together with an integral brim 44. This brim, as shown best in Figures 1 and 3, includes an upper surface 46 adapted to overlie the hat brim and also the members 38 and 40 of the reinforcing framework, together with an integral lower inturned annular flange 48 adapted to underlie the hat brim and the framework members 38 and 40. Preferably, the inner circumference of the portion 48 and the junction of the dome 42 with the upper surface 46 are of an elastic nature so as to cause the brim to resiliently engage the brim of a hat and/or of the brim members 38 and 40 of the reinforcing framework. When positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lower flange 48 will be disposed beneath the hat brim 44, below the reinforcing framework brim 38 and 40, and above the top surface of the base 10, being clamped therebetween by the above-mentioned action of the holdmg means.

Alternatively, the protective cover can be employed while the hat is being worn in order to protect the same against dust, adverse weather and the like.

As above mentioned, the supporting base 10 of the device is adapted to be readily mounted upon various supporting surfaces of any desired character, such as the vertical surfaces of walls, doors, or the like; and in various desired concealed or convenient and accessible locations. Alternatively, of course, the base 10 could form a part of some other surface, as the bottom surface of a chair seat, and the like.

However, it will be apparent that the principles of this invention may be utilized in a variety of ways and in a variety of environments, and obviously the base 10 can be secured to any desired supporting surface, such as by the use of fastening screws, suction cups, and various other conventional attaching means. In particular, as shown in Figure 7, the device readily lends itself to attachment or engagement with certain metallic surfaces. by merely providing the bottom surface of the base 10 with two or more permanently magnetized elements 50, whereby the device can be placed against an iron or steel surface and will be securely retained thereon.

However, a very important usage of the device is illustrated in Figure 2, wherein attaching means are provided adapting the device to be secured to upholstered objects, such as the cushioned or upholstered top of a motor vehicle, or the like. For this purpose, the base 10 is provided with pairs of guide channels or slots on opposite edges. Thus, one edge of the base 10 is provided with a pair of elongated channels or bores 52 which extend in parallel relation inwardly from the edge of the base and which communicate, as by relatively narrower elongated slots 54 with the bottom surface of the base. Obviously, the bores 52 can be disposed in parallel relation or at an angular inclination with respect to each other; may be straight or may be curved, as desired, and may be of circular or non-circular cross-section as desired. However, it is preferred to form the bores 52 of a greater diameter than the width of the channel 54, so that retaining rods or pins 56 which are slidably received in the bores 52 may be removed only endwise therefrom and cannot pass through the slots 54.

The ends of these pins are pointed, as at 58, to provide spurs or barbs. Rising from the pins 56 are guide rods 60 which are slidably received in the slots 54 and extend therethrough, and are provided with enlarged knurled knobs 62 on their upper ends which slide upon and overlie the top edges of the slots 54.

The other edge of the base 10 opposite that provided with the bores 52 are likewise provided with a pair of bores 64. These bores likewise may be of the various constructions described above with reference to the bores 52. Slidably received in these bores are a second set of fastening pins 66 likewise having pointed or barbed ends 68. Screw-threadedly engaged in suitable apertures or bores 70 in the bottom surface of the base 10 are fastening screws 72 which are adapted to function as set screws and engage the pin 66 and lock the same in longitudinally adjusted position with respect to their bore 64.

This arrangement is such that the pin 66 may be properly adjusted and locked in adjusted position; the screwthreaded knob 62 may be loosened upon the screwthreaded extremities of the rod 60, whereby the pins 56 may be retracted and the device be positioned against any suitable upholstered surface, such as the top of a car, and the fixed point 68 embedded in one side of the upholstery or top, and the other set of pins 56 may be moved longitudinally of their slots and embedded in the opposite side of the upholstery and then locked in adjusted position by the finger grip and locking nut 62.

It will thus be apparent that the device can be easily applied to or removed from such specialized environments as the top of a car or the like, and will function in the manner previously described for supporting, retaining and protecting a hat secured thereto.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood, and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A hat supporter and protector comprising a base, means for securing said base to a supporting surface, a holder mounted on said base engageable with the inside of a hat for releasably securing the latter to said base, said base having a fiat, hat supporting surface, said surface having a recess therein extending to one edge thereof, said holder being received in said recess and having handles extending from said recess beyond said edge and having pivoted arms extending from said recess above said base for engagement with a hat, a pivot pin pivotally connecting said arms, said recess being of less width at its inner end than at the edge of said surface, said pivot pin of said arms being adjacent the inner end of said recess and mounting said arms on said base.

2. The combination of claim 1 including hat engaging jaws on said arms disposed above the surface of said base, resilient means interengaging said pivot pin and said arms and urging said jaws from each other.

3. A hat supporter and protector comprising a base, means for securing said base to a supporting surface, a holder mounted on said base engageable with the inside of a hat for releasably securing the latter to said base, said securing means comprising pairs of oppositely disposed guides carried by said base, pointed pins slidably engaging said guides, means for locking said pins in adjusted positions relative to said guides.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said guides include elongated slots in said base, said pins being movable in said slots, said locking means extending through and being slidable in said slots.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said slots are wider at their bottom than at their top to retain said pins therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 35,246 Stowell Oct. 29, 1901 500,632 Trout July 4, 1893 1,577,645 Jutz Mar. 23, 1926 1,712,421 Cowan, Jr. May 7, 1929 1,861,341 Crame May 31, 1932 1,970,943 Raymond Aug. 21, 1934 2,140,861 Steketee Dec. 20, 1938 2,182,924 Kraft Dec. 12, 1939 2,442,723 Economakis June 1, 1948 2,538,237 Efner Jan. 16, 1951 

